“This initiative has been taken to have a pyschological impact on the teachers and headmasters. In practice it might be difficult to nab the person who is taking or giving dowry but with this initiative there will be some awareness and a sort of pressure on those who get the job,” said Ranajit Basu, chairman of the school service commission.

In case something is reported to us we will definitely take action against those involved, Basu said. Officials argue that since teachers are associated with society more than an ordinary individual, the commission hopes that if cases of this nature occur rampantly it would be reported to the commission.

The SSC is the organisation that appoints about 12,000 teachers each year in the state and about 700 headmasters in the state. Each year about five lakh students appear for SSC examination and about 3,000 teachers appear for the post of headmasters.

“The commission is also planning to advertise this before the examination so that more people become aware of it. Dowry is a social evil and it is the responsibility of the teachers who are role models to lead with examples,” said Basu.